A realtor from the Cowichan Valley has lodged a complaint regarding BC Assessment with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia

Jason Anson, a realtor with eXp Realty, filed a Freedom of Information request with BCA in August to determine how many property owners in B.C. appealed their property assessments in 2023 and 2024, and how successful they were.

He said his FOI request was met by BCA with procedural delays, shifting definitions, and a fee estimate of $736.49 for the requested information, and he claims that BCA is demonstrating systemic non-compliance with the provisions of the province乌鸦传媒檚 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

乌鸦传媒淚nstead of straightforward answers, I faced delays, roadblocks, and an unreasonable fee [from BCA],乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 calling for greater transparency in BCA乌鸦传媒檚 appeals process. Despite BCA乌鸦传媒檚 claim that 98 per cent of homeowners accept their property valuations without appealing, I乌鸦传媒檓 arguing the public is being left in the dark about the actual outcomes of those who do challenge their assessments. [BCA] touts the 98 per cent figure, but what about the two per cent who appeal? How many win? What does that say about the system乌鸦传媒檚 fairness?乌鸦传媒�

Anson has successfully helped dozens of homeowners in the Youbou area appeal property assessments that they considered too high over the last couple of years.

He has said the continuous over-assessments by BCA year after year are not limited to Vancouver Island, but is a province-wide issue in all rural areas, especially for waterfront owners.

Anson said his work with the Youbou Appeals Group in 2023 revealed just how inaccessible the system is.

He said that of the 109 property owners in the province who saw their appeals reach a full written submission and decision by the provincial assessment appeal board, he was the expert witness in 25 of those cases, representing 23 per cent of all provincial appeals last year that went to a full board decision.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 109 decisions out of hundreds of thousands of assessments,乌鸦传媒� said Anson. 乌鸦传媒淢ost people can乌鸦传媒檛 get that far. It乌鸦传媒檚 clear the system isn乌鸦传媒檛 designed to be accessible.乌鸦传媒�

Anson乌鸦传媒檚 efforts over the past two years have resulted in more than $15 million in reductions for property owners, but he believes broader accountability is needed.

乌鸦传媒淧roperty taxes are one of the biggest annual expenses for homeowners, yet BCA doesn乌鸦传媒檛 provide basic appeal data that would help property owners make informed decisions," he said.

"This isn乌鸦传媒檛 just about me, it乌鸦传媒檚 about public accountability.乌鸦传媒�

Anson said this highlights a critical gap in the province乌鸦传媒檚 property assessment system.

He said as homeowners prepare to open their new property assessments from BCA in early January, many may wonder that if they disagree with their assessments, is the appeals process worth the effort?

乌鸦传媒淧eople deserve to know how often appeals succeed,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲ithout transparency, we乌鸦传媒檙e left to take BCA乌鸦传媒檚 word for it, and that乌鸦传媒檚 not good enough.乌鸦传媒�

BC Assessment said in a statement that it does not comment on requests that are before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.